Welcome to SCI!

SCI is an independent organization concerned with the fellowship, collaboration, career goals, and objectives of new and contemporary music composers and those interested in topics related to composition. For Membership Information, including the member application, visit our membership information page.

SCI Member of the Week

Why SCI?

Society of Composers, Inc. is an independent volunteer-based
organization concerned with the fellowship, collaboration, and career goals of
new and contemporary music composers and those interested in topics related to
composition.

But what does that mean? How does SCI do these things?

Conferences

Every year, several multi-day conferences are coordinated by
SCI members with the sole intention of presenting new and exciting works by
fellow SCI composers. Not only are these conferences a vehicle to get your
music performed and hear new pieces but also an opportunity to share ideas and performance
resources with other composers from across the country. Professional contacts
established at our conferences can benefit composers for their entire career.

SCI has one annual national conference in addition to the
several conferences which happen on the regional level (and yes, you can submit
works to regions other than your own!). SCI also has select conferences
exclusively for student members.

Opportunities

SCI is also a great place to learn about opportunities for
performances, awards, recordings, and commissions through the online list
SCION. While SCI sends out a reminder about SCION once a month, new
opportunities are listed all the time. SCION lists thousands of such calls for
works each year.

SCI also provides certain opportunities which are only for
SCI members. In addition to the conferences, SCI has partnered with ASCAP to
create the annual SCI/ASCAP Student Composition Commission. For all members,
SCI publishes the Journal of Music Scores (consisting of members' scores) and
thanks to our relationship with Parma Recordings, SCI offers composer-based
recording opportunities and CD distribution.

Resources

With the conferences, the SCION opportunity list, the
Journal of Music Scores, the Composers' CD Series, the Performers' CD Series,
and the bi-monthly SCI Newsletter, SCI has a variety of ways to stay current
and connected on the diverse world of contemporary music composition. You can
even manage your own information, scores, and recordings using your
personalized website available via your own mySCI Account!

Community

One of the main reasons for all of these features is to
foster a sense of community and to facilitate dialog and the open share of ideas
and resources between SCI members. Anyone can join SCI regardless of your
compositional interests and tastes. More members means more diversity; more
diverse musical voices means more interesting discussions! Membership in SCI
provides more than a website with calls for scores. Membership in SCI provides
a wide spectrum of resources meant to cultivate a strong and vibrant community
of creative musicians.

Recent SCI News Items

SCI REGION VI "CALL FOR PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS" [DEADLINE Nov. 30]

SCI REGION VI "CALL FOR PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS" [DEADLINE Nov. 30]

The Society of Composers, Inc., Region VI (AR, KS, MO, NE, OK, TX) Conference will be held April 11-13 at Texas A&M University-Commerce in Commerce, TX hosted by Dr. David Davies.

Along with the performance of works by SCI composers, we are also extending a call for Papers and Presentations by members of SCI who wish to share their research pertaining to compositional technique, pedagogy, contemporary trends, and analysis.

Please submit abstracts of 300 words or less as a PDF through New Music Engine. In the file, include any technology requirements. Paper sessions will last a total of 30 minutes, including 10 minutes for questions.

Individuals who have submitted scores in response to the earlier call may also submit for the paper presentation. Composers are limited to one paper submission each.

The deadline for submission is November 30th and applicants will be notified via email by January 15th. In order for us to be sure to meet our Conference program printing deadline, we ask that a submissions include a 150 word bio and print quality jpeg headshot.

Please upload your submission to New Music Engine.

The 2018 SCI Jazz Contest Winner and Honorable Mention

From the desk of Leslie La Barre (Marketing Coordinator) and Dan Cavanagh (SCI Jazz Contest Coordinator)The Society of Composers, Inc. would like to congratulate the winner and honorable mention of the first SCI Jazz Contest 2018!Congratulations: Winner and recipient of the $500 award: Justin Morell for his work Terraforming

The Society of Composers, Inc., Region VI (AR, KS, MO, NE, OK, TX) Conference will be held April 11-13 at Texas A&M University-Commerce in Commerce, TX.

All composers are welcome to submit works for consideration, though preference in score selection will be given to SCI composers who are members of Region VI.

To join, go to www.societyofcomposers.org. Selected composers must join SCI and also attend the conference in order for their work to be performed. Submissions from student composers are strongly encouraged, as are submissions from composers who are able to supply their own performers.

Composers may submit up to 2 works for any of the listed performers/ensembles (with exceptions for those who are able to provide their own performers). Works should not exceed 20 minutes in length and selected movements of longer works are acceptable. All scores and recordings should be submitted through the New Music Engine site. MIDI recordings are acceptable if no live recording is available.

The deadline for submission is October 12, 2018. Composers whose work(s) will be performed at the conference will be notified via e-mail no later than December 19th. Interested composers are encouraged to submit their work as early as possible to accommodate conductors and performers looking to plan their repertoire for the semester.

Works for solo instrument (accompanied or solo) may be submitted for the following instruments:

Solo and chamber works involving string instruments may be submitted. However, composers should take note that A&M-Commerce does not have a string program and composers are strongly encouraged to provide their own string players. Composers who cannot supply their own performers are still welcome to submit, as the Department of Music may secure supplemental string musicians for the conference. Composers and presenters who are selected for this conference are required to remit a registration fee and must agree to attend the conference. The Society of Composers, Inc. is not able to offer travel stipends or honorariums to conference participants.

For questions about the SCI 2019 Region VI Conference, contact David Davies at david.davies@tamuc.edu.

Submitted works must have been composed in the past 5 years from the submission deadline. Only original works for jazz big band are eligible; arrangements are not eligible. The work submitted must have not received an award in a national or international composition contest.

To Apply

Submit both a score (PDF) and a recording (mp3) of one work composed for standard jazz band instrumentation [5 saxophones (with or without standard doubles), 4 trumpets/flugelhorns, 4 trombones (3 tenor plus bass), piano, guitar, bass, drum set]. The recording submitted can be of a studio session, live performance, or sequenced format. Live or studio recording preferred.

*Scores should be free of identifying information, using only a title and pseudonym marked on the score.*

SCI/ASCAP Competition results

From the desk of

Ian Guthrie (Assistant Marketing Coordinator) &

Zae Munn (SCI/ASCAP Commission Competition Coordinator)

Congratulations to the winners and honorable mention recipients in the 2018 SCI/ASCAP Student Commission Competition. They are listed here along with links to sound files of their winning compositions.